Marathon Running?

[cezza30]

The London Marathon is on today, and as happens every year, I feel a stirring in my legs telling me to train to run it next year.

I know this isn't most peoples' thing on here, but have any of your girlies ever run a marathon or half marathon??

 

[treilin]

Yup I ran 3 marathons in 2004

 

[cezza30]

Yup I ran 3 marathons in 2004

You ran three?? Wow that's good work! I'm impressed

When you decided to start training for one, what kind of distance could you already run? What was your starting point when running a marathon came into your mind? Or was it just something you decided to do because you were in good enough shape to do it?

Oohh lots of questions

 

[ophira]

Hi Cezza

I ran a marathon in 2003 and I'm currently training for a trail half in June, possible marathon in December. I'm a triathlete so I spend most of my time focusing on that... Anyhoo! Back to your question

All kinds of methods, training plans, and information are available at Runnersworld.com and Active.com/active.

Most slightly aggressive plans start with a base of 20 - 25 miles a week, but it can be done with less. When I ran my first I was running maybe 8 miles a week to start (September) and the marathon was 4 months later in December. Basic things to keep in mind: (1) Run three days a week, one easy run, one speed workout, and one long run. (2) Increase your distance no more than 10% per week. (3) Ease off every 4th week (reduce distance or minutes by 10% per workout for that week) then keep building the next consecutive 3 weeks, etc. (4) Speed workouts don't need to be crazy, but they should push you into your anaerobic threshold and keep you there. Repeats at a given pace, sprints, fartlek and tempo runs are all types of speed work. Oh, and a heart rate monitor will help you big time. I got mine for $50 at Target years ago and it still works.

I hope that helps!

(for the record, I used to have an account here as endurancejunkie but school, getting married, and life got in the way of regular readings/postings. I lost all my login info and had to create a new account. I've done three races this season with A Big One coming up in 2 weeks; then all of my A priority races later summer. Since last time I was here, I've lost 20 lbs, (from 180 to 160), I'm 5'8, I have more body fat that I care to admit to, and a BMI of 24.3. Current goals are faster run splits, better transitions, and to keep on enjoying myself

 

[treilin]

You ran three?? Wow that's good work! I'm impressed

When you decided to start training for one, what kind of distance could you already run? What was your starting point when running a marathon came into your mind? Or was it just something you decided to do because you were in good enough shape to do it?

Oohh lots of questions

I was running about 3-4 miles 5 days a week when I started training. I was bored and needed a new goal and so running a marthon seemed to be a good idea and challenging. Then I also decided to run for a cause (Team In Training) to raise money for Leukemia and Lymphoma. So the days when I didn't feel like running I would just imagine the people I had met that were suffering on a daily basis and that helped motivate me to keep moving. It was definitely a 'spiritual' experience. I tell you some days you have to dig down deep to find the energy to just do it. I hear that training for bodybuilding competitions are the same way... So here I go on my second spiritual adventure!!